Police ID Two Men In Fiery Manchester Crash

June 22, 2014|By DAVID OWENS, dowens@courant.com, The Hartford Courant

MANCHESTER — Police on Sunday identified the two men involved in a fiery crash Thursday night that left one of them dead.

Police identified the man who died as Aqwan Huff, 26. Police said the state medical examiner and state police crime lab were able to identify him through dental records and finger prints.

The man badly burned in the crash was identified as Shelton Johnson, 23, who was initially taken to Hartford Hospital after the crash, then transferred to the burn center at Bridgeport Hospital. He remained there Sunday in critical condition, police said.

Police continue to investigate the crash, which occurred about 8:30 p.m. Thursday at East Center and Holl streets.

Police said their preliminary investigation indicates the car was speeding north on Holl Street when it slammed into a utility police at East Center Street and burst into flames.

Manchester police acting Lt. Marc Hughes was nearby when he heard the impact and rushed to the scene. He saw Johnson, enveloped in flames, climb through the passenger side window and then run toward him.

Hughes said he grabbed a fire extinguisher from his police car, sprayed Johnson with its contents, then tackled him to smother the remaining fire.

Police are asking that any witnesses or anyone with information about the crash call Manchester Officer Jason Moss at 860-645-5560.